Nature, wildlife and conserved areas: Appearance before the Standing Committee – May 3, 2022

Nature at a glance

Canada’s nature is important for the world and is essential for human survival, security, prosperity, and well-being

• It provides us with a stable climate, breathable air, food supply, clean water, and protection from disease and disaster.
• Twenty countries contain 94% of the world’s remaining wilderness. Canada is #2 on this list.
• Canada has:
  • 28% of the world’s boreal forest
  • 20% of the world’s total freshwater
  • 24% of the world’s wetlands

Addressing biodiversity loss is essential and Canadians care about nature and support its protection

• 97% of Canadians have either maintained or increased their support for nature conservation since COVID-19.
• 78% of Canadians prioritize the protection of animal species at risk of extinction over the development of lands where those animals can be found.
• Our economies are embedded in Nature, not external to it.
• Globally, nature’s contributions to people are worth around $125 trillion a year.

Nature globally and in Canada

Globally:

• Up to 1,000,000 species are threatened with extinction.
• Natural ecosystems have declined by 47% on average.
• Approximately 25% of species are already threatened with extinction.
• The global biomass of wild mammals has fallen by 82%.

Five main drivers of biodiversity loss (in order by scale of impact):

1. changes in land and sea use
2. direct exploitation of organisms
3. climate change
4. pollution
5. invasion of alien species

• In Canada:
  • 70% of prairie wetlands lost
  • 80% of the Carolinian Forest lost
  • Over 80% of wetlands in and around urban areas lost
  • Between 1970 and 2016, populations of mammal and fish species decreased by 42% and 21% on average.

Animals in captivity

Q1. What federal measures, especially Environment and Climate Change Canada measures, are in place to protect animals in captivity? Does the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA) address animals in captivity?

• The key federal measures in place for the protection of animals in captivity are in the Criminal Code, the Fisheries Act and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA).
• With limited exceptions, such as supporting rehabilitation, the Criminal Code prohibits keeping whales and other cetaceans in captivity. It also prohibits breeding or impregnating these animals and possessing or seeking to obtain their reproductive material.
• The Fisheries Act prohibits fishing for a cetacean with the intent to take it into captivity with limited exceptions such as when the cetacean is injured, in distress or in need of care.
• WAPPRIITA does not impose any requirements for the protection of animals in captivity but focusses on the trade of certain animals. It forbids the import, export and interprovincial transportation of species whose capture or trade is already controlled internationally, domestically or in the country of origin, unless the specimen is accompanied by the appropriate permits.

Q2. When and how does the Government intend on implementing its Mandate Letter commitment to introduce legislation to protect animals in captivity? Will the Government support Bill S-241 (the Jane Goodall Bill), or would it introduce a similar Bill?

• ECCC is currently studying how best to implement this Mandate Letter commitment. This includes studying the Jane Goodall Bill.

Q3. The Criminal Code has already been amended to protect cetaceans. The Jane Goodall Bill extends that protection to apes and elephants so why not support it outright?

• The Jane Goodall Bill goes beyond prohibiting the custody of animals that are kept in captivity.
• For example, the Bill would:
  • enable appointing animal advocates for each province who, among other things, could apply to have a court issue orders in an animal’s “best interests” (e.g., ordering an offender to modify the physical conditions of captivity);
  • add other species to which the Criminal Code prohibitions would apply and to which WAPPRIITA would apply, particularly via the inclusion of annexes of designated animals;
  • expand offences related to the breeding of cetaceans, great apes, elephants and designated animals;
  • include new offences related to the actions of corporate officers;
  • enable the Minister of ECC to designate organizations, such as zoos and aquariums, as “eligible animal care organizations” provided they meet certain criteria;
  • enable the Minister of ECC to issue a permit to an eligible animal care organization authorizing it to keep designated animals in captivity, conduct non-harmful scientific research on them, breed them, and import, export or transport them interprovincially;
  • enable the issuance of a permit to any person for keeping a great ape, elephant or designated animal in captivity provided it is in the “best interests of the animal”, taking into consideration the animal’s individual welfare and conservation of the species;
  • allow the Minister of ECC to prescribe standards and best practices of animal care that must be followed by eligible animal care organizations;
  • deem the Minister of ECC to have issued permits to three specific zoos, authorizing them to import and export great apes or their reproductive material and transport them to the other two named zoos, keep them in captivity, conduct non-harmful scientific research and breed them;
  • deem the Minister of ECC to have designated seven zoos and aquariums as eligible animal care organizations, which enables them to keep designated animals in captivity, conduct non-harmful scientific research on them, breed them, and import, export or transport them interprovincially.
• For this reason, officials continue to study the bill in the event it is re-introduced, including considerations related to the federal-provincial division of powers and the use of criminal law.

Illegal wildlife trade in Canada

Q1. What are the impacts of illegal wildlife trade?

• Illegal wildlife trade and environmental crime is the fourth most lucrative form of organized crime worldwide. Annual economic losses worldwide due to illegal logging, fishing and wildlife trade combined are measured in the billions.
• Illegal wildlife trade is the second biggest threat to wild species after habitat destruction. It undermines the conservation of biodiversity and its contribution to the livelihoods and security of local communities.

Q2. What is ECCC doing to curb illegal wildlife trade?

• Environment and Climate Change Canada administers the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act(WAPPRIITA) which prohibits the import, export and interprovincial transportation of protected species, as well as their parts and derivatives. In Canada, WAPPRIITA is the legislation that enforces the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which is an international agreement to ensure that international trade of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
• The Department’s Enforcement Branch regularly carries out operations to deter and prosecute offenders involved in illegal wildlife trade. For example, every year ECCC’s enforcement officers participate in Interpol’s Operation Thunder - an international enforcement effort in collaboration with the World Customs Organization aimed at cracking down on wildlife crime. In 2021, this operation involved 118 countries, and resulted in 1,000 seizures of illegally traded specimens of protected wildlife.
• During Operation Thunder, ECCC enforcement officers, in partnership with the Canada Border Services Agency, conducted blitzes along the border with the United States. Officers uncovered various commodities made from protected species being trafficked between the United States and Canada such as Crocodile parts, hunting trophies of African primates, and Brazilian rosewood.

Q3. Who are ECCC’s partners to curb illegal wildlife trade?

• Environment and Climate Change Canada works in partnership with many Canadian federal departments such as Global Affairs Canada to define our role on the international scene, and the Department of Justice to advance legislative tools that strengthen wildlife protection in Canada.
• We also work with the Provinces, Territories, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We rely on the strong working relations with these partners to carry out joint enforcement operations and share intelligence.
• More broadly, departmental officials work with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime on various fronts. For example, we exchange experiences and best practices in combatting wildlife crime to get a better understanding of the link between wildlife and organized crime in the Americas.

Q4. What is Canada’s involvement in the international trade of elephant ivory in Canada?

• Canada is a small player in the global trade of ivory importing about 4% of ivory in legal trade globally. This represents an annual average of 730 items made from ivory imported per year, including an average of 11 tusks imported per year.
• Most imports into Canada are of old ivory that was acquired before the trade was controlled in the mid-1970s and as such has been grandfathered and is legal, and some strictly controlled trade in newer ivory. These include antique pianos, bagpipes, chess sets, carvings, and hunting trophies that originate from the legal harvest of sustainable African elephant populations.
• Between 2010 and 2019 there were sixty-four non-compliant cases involving ivory and a total of twenty-one seizures of elephant ivory goods in Canada. Most infractions related to ivory in Canada are items that could be legally imported or exported but were not accompanied by the proper documentation. These items are not linked to the current elephant poaching crisis.

Nature and biodiversity conservation

Q1. What is Canada doing to address biodiversity loss?

• We are facing an unprecedented biodiversity crisis with more than 1 million species facing extinction globally, including 622 at-risk species in Canada. This rapid decline of biodiversity is threatening the foundations of our economy, food security, health, and quality of life.
• Canada is taking a strong international leadership role on the development of an ambitious new Global Biodiversity Framework with clear targets and actions to be finalized at the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity’s 15th Conference of the Parties later this year in Kunming, China.
• Following adoption of the new post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, Canada will develop a domestic biodiversity strategy and action plan to 2030 in collaboration with provinces, territories, Indigenous representatives and other stakeholders, covering all areas of nature conservation and sustainable use and building on the plan to 25%.
• In Budget 2021, the Government of Canada invested $2.3 billion over five years to enable Canada to reach its goal of conserving 25% of our lands and oceans by 2025, and to work towards conserving 30% of each by 2030. Taken together with funding provided for the Nature Legacy Initiative announced in 2018, this represents the largest investment in nature conservation in Canada’s history.
• The commitment to conserve 30% of Canada’s lands and oceans by 2030 is closely linked to the Government’s goal to halt and reverse nature loss, conserve and restore species at risk, and to better account for the values of nature, including nature-based climate adaptation and mitigation.
• To help address the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change, Canada is also investing over $4 billion over ten years (2021-2031) to deliver nature-based climate solutions in forests, grasslands, wetlands, and agricultural lands. These efforts will benefit biodiversity, build resilience in our ecosystems and nature-based economic sectors, create green jobs, and contribute to Canada’s 2030 and 2050 climate goals.

Nature-based climate solutions

Q1. What action is Canada taking to address the dual crises of biodiversity loss and climate change?

• Canada is investing over $4 billion over ten years (2021-2031) to deliver nature-based climate solutions in forests, grasslands, wetlands, and agricultural lands. This investment includes planting 2 billion trees, restoring degraded ecosystems, improving land management practices, and conserving land at risk of conversion to other uses. These efforts will benefit biodiversity, build resilience in our ecosystems and nature-based economic sectors, create green jobs, and contribute to Canada’s 2030 and 2050 climate goals. This work will build on existing successful initiatives, complement other federal programs, and draw on strong partnerships to ensure its effectiveness.
• Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC), and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) are working together to deliver on the Natural Climate Solutions Fund. In addition to tree planting, working to restore, better manage, and conserve ecosystems, and promoting the adoption of environmentally-friendly farming practices, the Fund includes investments in research, monitoring, science, and reporting to better understand and track greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions from funded activities.
• The 2020 Fall Economic Statement provided ECCC with $631 million for 2021-2031 to support projects that collectively reduce GHG emissions by 2-4 megatons annually while providing a host of biodiversity and other benefits. Specifically, funding will support projects that conserve, restore and enhance wetlands, peatlands, and grasslands to store and capture carbon, with direct benefits for migratory birds, species at risk and other species of cultural and/or socio-economic importance to local communities. The initiative also supports Indigenous organizations and communities to undertake Indigenous-led, on-the-ground projects for ecological restoration that result in reduced and captured GHG emissions. The first projects were announced in summer 2021, and the first open call for proposals closed in late January 2022.
• Further, to enhance the potential for the natural environment to store carbon and reduce emissions, Budget 2022 proposed to provide $780 million over five years, starting in 2022-23, to ECCC to expand the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund. Further details will be available in the coming months.

Q2. How is Canada encouraging Nature-Based Climate Solutions globally?

• Canada is advocating for coordinated global action to address both climate change and biodiversity loss. Canada will allocate at least 20% of its $5.3-billion climate finance commitment to nature-based climate solutions and biodiversity co-benefits in developing countries over the next five years.
• This represents more than CA$1 billion. The Prime Minister announced at COP26 that Canada would provide $15 million in support for the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance and the Global Fund for Coral Reefs. This funding will help developing countries build domestic capacity to take climate action, build resilience, and advance adaptation efforts while also increasing biodiversity.

Protected and conserved areas

Q1. Why has the government committed to conserving 30% by 2030, and is achieving this commitment feasible?

• The most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report suggests that maintaining the resilience of biodiversity and ecosystem services at a global scale depends on effective and equitable conservation of approximately 30% to 50% of the Earth’s land, freshwater and ocean areas.
• 30% by 2030 is an ambitious goal—as of December 2021, approximately 13.5% of terrestrial and almost 14% of ocean areas have been conserved or protected in Canada. Budget 2021 investments set the stage to meet this goal and work is already underway.
• In Canada, working with partners is essential, as land available for conservation and protection are under diverse jurisdictions. Protected and conserved areas are therefore established in close collaboration with Indigenous peoples; provincial, territorial, and municipal governments; non-government organizations; philanthropic foundations and the private sector.
• As set out in the Minister’s mandate letter, Canada’s plan is grounded in science, Indigenous knowledge and local perspectives, and will use a variety of tools to achieve area-based conservation, including protected areas, other effective conservation measures (OECM) and Indigenous-led area-based conservation.

Q2. What is Canada doing to support protected and conserved areas establishment?

• Since 2015, Canada has increased its protected terrestrial areas by more than 2%. As of December 2021, 13.5% of lands and inland waters have been protected. On the marine side, Canada has protected 14% of our marine and coastal areas, up from less than 1% in 2015.
• Canada’s protected and conserved area standards are based on International Union for Conservation of Nature guidance, and managed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the areas’ natural qualities and amenities.
• Within Canada, lands can be counted towards our area-based conservation targets if they are considered a protected area or an Other Effective Conservation Measure (OECM). Both types of conservation action deliver enduring conservation; however, conservation is not necessarily the primary use at a site that is considered an OECM.
• As part of the Government’s commitment to the conservation targets, Budget 2021 provided funding to Parks Canada to establish 10 new national marine conservation areas, 10 new national parks and 4 new freshwater national marine conservation areas, and to acquire the land needed to expand and complete existing national parks as well as $130 million to work with partners to create a network of national urban parks. Budget 2021 also provided funding to ECCC to protect and expand 22 of Canada’s national wildlife areas.
• Environment and Climate Change Canada supports protected and conserved areas work through funding for third party initiatives on public and private lands, as well as expanding our federally managed network of National Wildlife Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries, managed under the Canada Wildlife Act and the Migratory Birds Sanctuary Regulations.
• ECCC’s current network includes 92 Migratory Bird Sanctuaries and 55 National Wildlife Areas and covers 151,103 km². Parks Canada’s network includes 47 national parks, 5 national marine conservation areas and the Rouge National Urban Park that protect and conserve approximately 464,000 km² of Canada’s lands and marine waters and coastlines.

Species at risk

Q1. What is the Government doing to support species at risk?

• We are committed to the protection of Canada’s unique habitats and the protection and recovery of species at risk based on sound science.
• We are committed to fulfilling our statutory obligations under SARA. These include developing recovery strategies in partnership with provinces and territories, including the identification of critical habitat and collaborating with provinces and territories to conserve and protect species at risk.
• Budget 2021 committed $2.3 billion over five years – the largest investment in nature conservation in Canada’s history. This historic investment will strengthen the protection and recovery of species at risk and their habitats.
• Our investments and engagement are enabling real, on-the ground action to achieve better outcomes for species at risk such as caribou, Polar Bear and Old Growth-dependent species at risk like Spotted Owl and Marbled Murrelet.
• We seek to achieve species benefits in all our conservation efforts, be that establishing new protected areas, working with our colleagues in the United States on our shared migratory bird priorities or demonstrating leadership on the international stage.
• At home, we will continue to partner with Indigenous communities to advance conservation actions in a manner that reflects their unique needs, priorities, rights, knowledge, and respecting our collective efforts towards reconciliation.

Q2. What is the Government doing for caribou?

• Provinces and territories have the primary responsibility to manage lands and wildlife on non-federal land. The Government of Canada is working in cooperation with provinces, territories, wildlife management boards, stakeholders and Indigenous peoples to implement actions to protect at-risk caribou species and their habitat, and to achieve positive conservation outcomes.
• The Government of Canada has been actively working with provinces and territories, and Indigenous peoples, to negotiate and implement conservation agreements to advance the conservation and recovery of caribou.
• To date, 10 conservation agreements have been signed with provinces, territories and Indigenous communities to support the advancement of caribou recovery. Most recently, Canada has signed an agreement with the provinces of Ontario and Alberta, as well as an agreement with Mikisew Cree First Nation and Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. Other agreements are currently being negotiated. Canada is finalizing an agreement with Manitoba for which a draft is expected to be posted for public comment in the coming weeks.
• These agreements aim to deliver tangible on-the-ground actions, with a focus on conservation measures that will improve outcomes for caribou including habitat restoration and protection. In particular, Canada is seeking commitments to range planning or similar approaches that outline a path to achieving self-sustaining local caribou populations. The Government is also supporting these activities by providing financial support through contribution agreements with stakeholders and Indigenous peoples.
• Through its historic investments in nature in 2018 and 2021, the Government of Canada has and will continue to advance a number of on-the-ground initiatives to support boreal caribou recovery, many of which are implemented in collaboration with Indigenous peoples. Canada’s 2 Billion Trees program will also contribute to the conservation and restoration of caribou habitat.
• Parks Canada has taken concrete steps to reduce threats to Southern Mountain Caribou and create better conditions for their survival and recovery. A Budget 2021 investment of $24M over 5 years from the Enhanced Nature Legacy Initiative is supporting the assessment, engagement and detailed design of a proposed conservation breeding facility to rebuild caribou herds in Jasper National Park.

Q3. What is the Government doing for caribou in Quebec?

• We have been working with the Government of Quebec since 2018 to support its boreal caribou conservation efforts and improve recovery outcomes for the species, including through two agreements between 2018 and 2022. We could only transfer $4.28M of the $11.6M agreed to, for the period 2018 and 2023, to support activities that Quebec had undertaken because the province considerably reduced its ambition.
• Facing a lack of progress, we indicated our intention to fulfill our regulatory obligations under the Species at Risk Act regarding the protection of the species and its habitat unless there is a clear commitment to negotiating an agreement that would advance and secure caribou recovery in Quebec. Quebec recently reengaged with Canada and it is Canada’s hope for a negotiated resolution.
• We have also invested $4.9M since 2016 for conservation projects by Indigenous communities and organizations in Quebec. In particular, in 2018 we signed a five-year, $1.26M agreement with the Anishinabe Nation of Lac-Simon to support the recovery of the Val-d’Or herd.

Q4. What is the Government doing for Caribou in Ontario?

• On April 21, 2022, the governments of Canada and Ontario signed a conservation agreement for boreal caribou under section 11 of the Species at Risk Act.
• The agreement includes important new commitments for habitat restoration activities, increased habitat protection, refinement and alignment of evidence-based approaches to managing caribou, monitoring and reporting, and Indigenous and stakeholder collaboration.
• The agreement is an important step to achieve positive conservation outcomes for boreal caribou in Ontario and will enable a collaborative approach, as well as federal investments in caribou conservation in Ontario.
• ECCC officials will be closely monitoring the implementation of the conservation measures laid out in the agreement and will publicly report annually on their implementation.

Q5. What is the Government doing for Western Chorus Frog?

• The government has taken urgent measures to protect important habitat for the western chorus frog from the threat of urban development in La Prairie and in Longueuil, part of the Montreal Metropolitan Community.
• In addition, we have orders in place on our own federal lands to ensure the critical habitat for the species is protected.
• We have also made investments in numerous projects like breeding and re-introduction programs that aim to conserve and recover the species across Ontario and Quebec.
• ECCC continues to advance collaborative outcomes for protecting and recovering the species through the Pan-Canadian Approach to Transforming Species at Risk Conservation in Canada.
• ECCC continues to protect and manage the species’ critical habitat on federal lands through compliance promotion and permitting.

Q6. What is the Government doing for Marbled Murrelet, and other species in the vicinity of Fairy Creek, B.C.?

• B.C.’s old growth forests are home to many species at risk including Marbled Murrelet, Spotted Owl, Southern Mountain Caribou and Northern Goshawk.
• The federal government is committed to collaborating towards the recovery and protection of forest-dependent species at risk in B.C. This includes support for Indigenous-led conservation efforts.
• It also means including old growth forests as a key topic of discussion with the province. This includes in the context of negotiations of a Bilateral Nature Agreement, and also the mandate letter commitment to work with the province to establish a $50 million B.C. Old Growth Nature Fund that incents third party funding, supports Indigenous community leadership in conservation, and protects hectares.
• Old growth forests and the species dependent on them are found primarily on provincial lands, and we continue to look first to the province to protect and recover species at risk on those lands and to manage its forestry sector.
• While the federal government continues to prioritize collaborative work with B.C. and partners on these issues, the Minister of Environment will use the authorities outlined in federal legislation if B.C. protection efforts are determined to be ineffective.

2 Billion Trees

Q1. Why aren’t more of the 2 Billion trees already planted?

• The Minister of Natural Resources, with support from the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, was mandated to develop and implement a plan to plant two billion trees over the next 10 years as part of a broader commitment to natural climate solutions. This program was officially launched in February 2021 with federal funds secured in the 2020 fall economic statement.
• The process to get from seeds to trees is complex and involves multiple activities from seed collection, to nursery operations, to site preparation, and finally to tree planting. Many of these activities are seasonal, some of which can occur only 4 to 5 months per year.
• Tree planting also requires careful planning to ensure the right tree is planted in the right place for the right reasons. Different species and sizes of trees are required in different planting projects across the country.
• This is why planting 2 billion trees will take several years to ramp up. The Program has been designed to plant incrementally more trees in every planting year than the year before. By ramping up planting activities every year Canada will hit its target of 2 billion trees planted over 10 years.
• In its first year, the 2 Billion Trees (2BT) program achieved results beyond expectations: over 30M trees, representing more than 50 species, are expected to be planted at more than 500 sites in all provinces. Going forward the Government of Canada will enter into longer-term agreements to secure planting over 10 years. After a ramp up, by 2026 the program aims to plant 250-350M trees annually. This is in addition to the 500M already planted in Canada each year.
• The exact number of trees planted will be reported by our partners after all of their planting activities are completed. Final results for the 2021 tree planting season will be available in spring 2022.

Q2. How does ECCC support the 2BT initiative?

• In addition to mitigating the impacts of climate change and providing jobs, the 2BT program will also support the restoration of forested habitat for species at risk and other species of conservation interest such as boreal and southern mountain caribou and migratory birds.
• Since the inception of the program ECCC has been working closely with NRCan and other partners – including the provinces and territories – to ensure the 2BT program maximizes biodiversity and conservation benefits.
• Furthermore, ECCC is providing scientific expertise and strategic advice to develop policies, identify interactions, and evaluate horizontal program linkages. This includes ensuring alignment with other governmental initiatives such as Enhanced Nature Legacy and the wider Nature-based Climate Solutions program.
• ECCC will continue to actively engage with NRCan, the provinces and territories, and other partners to advance nature outcomes and achieve mutual benefits and goals.

Q3. What will the funding Parks Canada is receiving in the Supplementary Estimates be used for?

• The $660,410 transfer from the Department of Natural Resources to Parks Canada Agency included in Parks Canada’s 2021-22 Supplementary Estimates (C) is to support the planting of 150,000 trees in Parks Canada-administered places from coast to coast in 2021. This transfer supports the Government of Canada’s commitment to address climate change and protect biodiversity.
• Parks Canada worked with local community groups to plant 146,716 trees in or near
• 17 Parks Canada sites in 2021. This included 47,570 trees planted in Rouge National Urban Park and 65,000 trees in Terra Nova National Park.

Q4. What is Parks Canada doing to support the 2 billion trees commitment, and is Parks Canada part of the over $4 billion Natural Climate Solutions Fund?

• Parks Canada is part of the Natural Climate Solutions Fund. The Agency is currently working with partners to develop long-term planting plans for the next nine years at Parks Canada sites across the country.
• Parks Canada is committed to planting trees in ways that enhance biodiversity, ecological integrity and capture carbon. Tree planting takes time and requires the careful selection of site, seed source, and species.
• Parks Canada expects to increase planting efforts over the next nine years. Rouge National Urban Park intends to plant 45,000 trees each year over the next nine years. This project will enhance biodiversity and ecological connectivity in an urban landscape.
• Gros Morne National Park is planning to plant up to 2 million trees over the next seven years as part of a project to restore boreal forest degraded by years of high moose numbers. This project is following a climate smart approach and will provide important habitat for migrating song birds and a variety of species at risk.

Q5. How can the 2 billion trees commitment support Parks Canada’s new priorities on ecological corridors and national urban parks?

• Ecological corridors and national urban parks will be created in areas where fragmented habitat or degraded lands may need restoration to increase their ability to support biodiversity conservation as well as climate change adaptation and mitigation, which are priorities under both programs.
• As sites for ecological corridors and national urban parks are identified, the 2 billion trees commitment can support these priorities by working with Parks Canada to assess where the planting of trees would contribute to improve the natural state and/or ecological function of these sites.

Wildfire and flood preparedness

Flood Preparedness (ECCC)

Q1. What is the Federal Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program?

• Budget 2021 provided $63.8M over three years for the Federal Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program, a joint initiative between Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Public Safety Canada, to work with provinces and territories to complete flood maps for higher-risk areas in Canada.
• The program will provide flood data and maps for communities in Canada at higher risk of flooding. This information will help keep Canadians safer from floods as it supports flood prevention, mitigation, response, and planning activities.
• As part of this program, ECCC will receive $13.4 million over three years to advance flood mapping practices and support the development of flood maps that integrate climate change and uncertainty. In particular, ECCC will:
  • Work with colleagues in the Provinces and Territories to set up a community of practice for floodplain mapping;
  • collaborate with academics to advance science to incorporate climate change considerations into floodplain mapping; and
  • develop the methodology to provide, improve, and support the historical reanalysis of conditions and streamflow information.

Q2. What is ECCC’s role with respect to flooding and flood mapping?

• ECCC’s Meteorological Service of Canada is the authoritative source for data and information on weather, water quantity, climate, ice and air quality conditions across Canada.
• The Meteorological Service Canada supports provincial and territorial flood forecasting centres by:
  • Monitoring and predicting weather conditions that may influence flooding (i.e., precipitation, snow pack);
  • measuring and monitoring water levels and flows; and
  • providing expert interpretation by meteorologists and hydrologists to assess flood risks and to inform decisions on flood mitigation and emergency management measures.
• ECCC will also support NRCan in developing flood maps under the Federal Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program by ensuring the maps accurately reflect local hydrology as well as uncertainty due to a changing climate.

Q3. What can we expect for the upcoming flooding season?

• Preliminary assessments indicate that the likelihood of flooding for the majority of regions is average or normal but there are some areas of higher risk due to recent forecasts showing above average temperatures, snowpack and precipitation in British Colombia, Ontario and Manitoba.
• Forecasts this far out are subject to a higher degree of uncertainty and Canadians should always pay attention to the local forecasts and warnings available in their area as conditions can change rapidly.
• The Meteorological Service of Canada works closely with provincial and territorial partners, both at the regional and national levels, to gain an understanding of local and regional flood conditions, and provides weekly reports on flood and weather conditions to Public Safety Canada’s Government Operations Centre.

Q4. How will Parks Canada use the funding for wildfire management?

• The 2022-23 Main Estimates include an increase of $13.6 million for wildfire resilience.
• This funding supports prevention and response measures for wildfires that originate in, traverse through, or otherwise threaten Parks Canada-administered lands and adjacent communities.
• The incremental funding enhances the capacity of Parks Canada’s National Fire Management program and will strengthen the wildfire resilience of Parks Canada’s protected areas, and will enhance visitor safety and the protection of the built facilities, natural and cultural assets, ecosystems and wildlife for which Parks Canada is responsible.

Q5. What is Parks Canada’s role in wildfire management?

• Under the Canada National Parks Act, Parks Canada is responsible for managing wildland fire activity across the federal lands under its jurisdiction.
• Parks Canada is the only federal organization that is an operational wildfire management organization, with similar roles and capabilities as any provincial-territorial wildfire agency. Parks Canada is responsible for managing wildland fire across 350,195 km² of federal Crown lands (approximately the size of Germany or six times the land mass of Nova Scotia).
  • This includes a number of iconic town sites including Banff, Jasper and Waterton, as well as critical infrastructure including the Trans Canada Highway and railways.
• Parks Canada provides operational wildfire resources to provinces and territories through resource exchange agreements, as well as international partners. As the only federal organization with operational wildfire resources to contribute to requests for support Parks Canada is proud to have deployed:
  • 180 personnel in support of 5 provinces and territories in 2021, including a total of 143 personnel deployed to assist with the wildfires in British Columbia.
  • 13 personnel to Australia and 25 personnel to the United States (Oregon State) in 2019/2020 to support those jurisdictions in fighting catastrophic wildfires.
• For the upcoming 2022 fire season, Parks Canada has 22 4-person fire crews across Canada (over 80 personnel total), and a roster of 5 20-person National Incident Management Teams (over 100 personnel total) that can be dispatched to manage all aspects of high complexity fires or incidents.

Q6. How is climate change impacting Parks Canada’s ability to manage wildfire?

• Climate change is driving more intense, faster moving and longer lasting wildfires increasing risk to the safety and security of Canadians, to economic activity, and to critical infrastructure.
• Canada, including Parks Canada, is facing wildfire resource and capacity challenges as the frequency and damages resulting from wildfires are increasing.
• To help mitigate these risks, Budget 2021 provided $100.6 million over five years starting in 2021-22, and no ongoing funding to the Parks Canada Agency to enhance wildfire preparedness in Canada’s national parks. However, this amount included existing resources resulting in an actual net new resources for wildfire of $52.5M over five years.
• Parks Canada collaborates with federal, provincial, territorial, municipal, Indigenous and international governments as well as the academic, non-profit, and private sectors to prepare for and respond to wildfires as well as to better understand, prevent, and manage increasing risks as a result of climate change.